Is Marijuana Use Linked to Testicular Cancer?

A few years ago, a team of researchers at the University of Southern California believed they found a link between marijuana and testicular cancer. In fact, the study led these researchers to believe that marijuana use amongst teenage males can double the risk of testicular cancer.

“We do not know what marijuana triggers in the testes that may lead to carcinogenesis, although we speculate that it may be acting through… the cellular network that responds to the active ingredient in marijuana, since this system has been shown to be important in the formation of sperm,” said Victoria Cortessis, lead author and assistant professor of preventive medicine at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. (source)

Cortessis claimed that testicular cancer is the most common form for men between the ages of 15 and 45. She also claimed that it is on the rise.

“This isn’t the first time that this information has come out,” said Michael Craycraft, testicular cancer survivor and founder of the Testicular Cancer Society, a support, and advocacy group for men and boys diagnosed with the disease.

“There have been at least two other studies in the past couple of years that have basically shown the same thing,” he said. “In particular, that marijuana smoking is associated with nonseminoma, a harder-to-treat kind of testicular cancer.”

These are Terrifying Findings

For young men living life and having a great time, this is scary. To all those folks who claim nothing bad comes from marijuana use… you heard it here first. In addition to all of the other bad effects, marijuana can have on teens, increased cancer risk is now added to the pile.